Opposition to PhilHealth Circular 022 Increasing OFW Contribution from P900 to P2,400

News Release

Blas F. Ople Policy Center

December 20, 2011

NGOs, OFW bloggers oppose Philhealth circular raising premiums of OFW members

Several non-government organizations involved in overseas employment issues banded together to oppose Philhealth Circular No. 022 that would nearly triple the amount of premiums to be paid by overseas Filipino workers by next year.

Philhealth convened a consultative meeting with a handful of non-profit organizations representing overseas Filipino workers this morning. Walter Bacareza, vice-president of its Member Management Group presented the agency's plans to increase membership rates including that of OFWs as well as the Board's intention to "revolutionize" healthcare services in the country. Philhealth vice-president for corporate affairs Gregorio Rulloda was also present in the meeting.

Former labor undersecretary Susan Ople of the Blas F. Ople Center, Luther Calderon, president of the Kabalikat ng Migranteng Pilipino, Inc., Apostol Gratela, chairman of the Kalahi-Advocate for Overseas Filipinos and Jun Aguilar of the Filipino Migrant Workers' Group objected to the planned increases citing the lack of consultations with the labor and overseas workers' sectors. With two weeks to go before the new rates are imposed, the health agency issued the invitations for today's consultative meeting to a handful of OFW sector representatives only yesterday. The circular itself was issued on December 15.

"On January 2, unless the Philhealth Board withdraws its circular, all overseas workers would be paying 300 pesos more for their Philhealth premium and for those unable to pay that amount within the first six months of 2012, they would have to pay 2,400 pesos as annual premium from July onwards, a huge amount compared to the current 900 pesos being shelled out by every OFW. These new rates are being imposed without consultations, without clear explanations, and without consideration given the heavy financial burdens already being experienced by our migrant workers' given the series of calamities and continued slowdown in the world economy," the leaders of the said NGOs said.

During the consultative meeting, Philhealth officials explained that the higher premiums would allow the agency to meet its performance targets as well as attain the country's Millennium Development Goals and aspiration for universal health care coverage. Vice-President Bacareza also cited the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 that includes a performance evaluation of all GOCCs.

"It is unfortunate that the Philhealth Board of Directors decided to issue and release this new circular while the nation is grieving over the deaths of so many of our compatriots in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and other parts of the Visayans and Mindanao regions. We question the timing, the lack of consultations, and the inexplicable haste by which this new circular is now being imposed not only on our OFWs but on all workers covered by Philhealth," Susan Ople said.

Jun Aguilar of the Filipino Migrant Workers' Group who was a former OFW in Saudi Arabia said that most OFWs are not even aware of the benefits due them as Philhealth members. "My son is an OFW and he relies on the more efficient health care system in Saudi Arabia rather than Philhealth because that is where he is situated. Why should he now pay triple the cost of premium to enable Philhealth to meet its own internal targets?"

Aguilar also cited a provision in the Amendments to the Migrant Workers' Act otherwise known as Republic Act No. 10022 that prohibits any increases in government fees for services rendered to OFWs.

Another OFW advocate, Luther Custodio, objected to the planned increase and called for a more intensified information campaign from Philhealth about its "revolutionary" changes to the current national health program.

Moves to oppose the Philhealth premium increases are set to snowball with the participation of OFW bloggers that founded the annual Philippine Expat/OFW Bloggers Award (PEBA). PEBA founder Jebee Solis who is based in Saudi Arabia said his group will blog against the new Philhealth circular citing the fact that most foreign companies obtain health insurance for foreign workers.

Philhealth officials who were present during the consultative meeting with the NGOs promised to report to the Board the concerns of the OFW sector on the impact of the abrupt increase in Philhealth premiums on the expenses of every departing worker, and on those wanting to renew their memberships.

"We are appealing to the Philhealth leadership to be more considerate given these extraordinarily difficult times. Every OFW with relatives in calamity-stricken areas will be relied upon to help defray the rebuilding of homes, and the sustenance of their surviving kin. We seek a deferment of Philhealth Circular No. 022 pending more extensive consultations and so that all of us can focus our efforts and attention in helping out those devastated by the floods in Mindanao," the civil society leaders said.

©2011 KABLOGS, Blogs ng mga Kababayan sa Abroad

OFW Now Exempted from TAX

OFWs now tax-exempt

New law scraps DST, travel tax, airport fee for migrant workers

The amended Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act now exempts Ofws or Overseas Filipino Workers from paying documentary stamp tax (DST) on their remittances, travel tax and airport fee.

According to the Manila Bulletion News

"Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are now exempted from paying documentary stamp tax (DST) on their remittances as well as travel tax and airport fee.

This is contained in the amended Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.

The law exempts migrant workers from the payment of travel tax, DST, and airport fee upon showing of proof of entitlement from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

“The remittances of all OFWs, upon showing the same proof of entitlement by the OFW beneficiary or recipient, shall be exempted from the payment of documentary stamp tax,’’ Section 22 of Republic Act 10022, stated.

Former labor undersecretary and now Nacionalista Party (NP) senatorial bet Susan Ople immediately urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and the Department of Finance (DoF) to immediately issue the new law’s implementing guidelines.

“The DoLE and the DoF should promptly issue the new law's implementing rules and regulations so that OFWs would immediately benefit from reduced remittance charges,’’ Ople said in a statement.

She said that the scrapping of the DST is very timely because it could help the OFW beneficiaries here recover some of the buying power they lost due to the peso’s surge against the dollar.

“OFWs can now count on some P1.3 billion in extra savings with the abolition of the DST on all their remittances,’’ Ople said, as she cited DoF’s projection at $19 billion worth of remittances this year.

“The removal of the DST on all funds wired home by OFWs would help drive down money transfer charges, and put more cash in the pockets of those receiving remittance,’’ she added.

Prior to the passage of RA 10022, all money transfers from abroad and payable in the Philippines, including those wired home by OFWs were subject to the DST at a rate of P0.30 for every P200.

Ople said that local banks and non-bank money transfer agents such as The Western Union Co. and Moneygram International, Inc. collect the DST before the funds sent home by OFWs are actually paid out to their beneficiaries here.

This means that OFWs pay a DST of P33.27 for every $500 or P22,180 (at $1:P44.36) they send home. The amount is on top of foreign and local bank fees, plus the P0.50 to a dollar margin domestic banks that are allowed when paying out remittances in pesos.

Various OFWs and labor groups and even an administration senatoriable had called for the scrapping of the tax imposed on remittances, saying it will severely burden the overseas workers and their families.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) had said the government has been raking in money from OFW remittances through the DST, reaching to over P1.3 billion.

Migrante International believes the government has had enough from the billions of dollars of OFW remittances it received yearly.

“OFWs have been the country’s economic saviors for over three decades already; it is therefore high time for the government to do the saving,’’ the group said.

Given the contribution of OFWs in helping keep the economy afloat, Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial bet Atty. Raul Lambino also said it is not wise fiscal policy to require DST payment for OFW remittances.

An estimated 10 million Filipinos, migrants and contract workers are working abroad. OFWs remit around $17 billion annually, it was learned. "

List of 2010 Candidates: Your guide

Upang tumulong sa inyong pagpili ng mga iboboto para sa darating na eleksyon, narito po ang listahan ng mga tumatakbo sa eleksyon bilang Pangulo, Bise Presidente at Senador.

Maaari n'yo po itong i-save at ibahagi sa iba.

Dalangin po ng Kablogs na makapamili kayo ng wasto sa inyong iboboto.

Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey, Delikado Daw si Manny?

Inaatake ako ng pagiging nationalistic ko, or pagiging adik sa boxing lalo na pag si Manny na may laban.

Now, para na akong Sports Reporter nito, hehe, pero kahit pa sabihing si Manny pa rin ang pinakapaborito ng lahat, delikado daw ang lagay nito.

Sa ulat na nakalap ng aking internet laptop, hahaha, ayos ang rhyme di ba, sa weigh in pa lang, 145 and 3/4 lbs si Manny, at 147 lbs naman si Joshua Clottey, at kapag kumain pa daw ito, aabot sa 160 lbs ang magiging timbang. Wag naman sumobra ang kain at baka maagang makatulog. (hehe)

Pero judging by the photos and videos, mukhang bakulaw nga sa laki si Clottey at nakakatakot na masapol ng kamao niya si Manny kasi ang mga Ghanian, well, parang mga Pakistani din, matitigas ang balat, sanay sa init at bakbakan.

Ito ang mga sabi-sabi nila:

Richard over Pacland: "Don't be too sure that Pacman will dominate the fight in a lopsided manner. Clottey will hurt him more than Cotto did. Since Clottey won that fight with Cotto. Even Pacman admitted it, so he knows for sure he's in for a much tougher fight. This is Clottey's chance of a lifetime so he is more hungrier for the win. Pacman's is in danger, chance to win is 50/50."

Ryan Bates - "I think then what I think now -- it was a nice slap in the face to Team Mayweather. By quickly announcing that Pacquiao will fight the always-solid and tough Clottey, it was saying, "Manny doesn't need you, Floyd. You need Manny." Although I do think Manny will handily win, Clottey is not someone who's a pushover. Clottey has a chin of stone and will not go down easily. In fact, he could do something very rare and hang all 12 rounds with the Pac-Man."

Ali Shakoor - "Exactly, I don't want to parrot everything that I wrote in my 3/4/10 column, but yeah, Clottey is a legit top 5 welterweight, and capable of beating anyone on any given night. With his defense, strong chin, pride, and straight compact punching I think Manny is in for a rough night."

Read more here: BOXING 411

I am sure libo-libo na namang mga kababayan ang nag-aabang ng laban na ito. It's disappointing na hindi natuloy ang laban ni Manny and Mayweather, with some nasty accusations between the two. Pero sa laban mamaya, we will watch it via HBO, and hope to bring it live through some friends help who will live stream it.

Try this site for livestreaming, tomorrow, 5AM Saudi Arabia time, and 10AM Philippine time.

Bakit Ka Nag-abroad?

Ikaw bakit ka nag-abroad?

Dapat nito tinatanong sa forum. Pero I'd like to get the attention of other people, especially other OFWs.

Bakit maraming nag-aabroad, at anong pinakareason bakit ka nag-abroad?

We here in KABLOGS honestly would like to get your point of view, and your thoughts on this. Please feel free to leave your comment.

The math of OFWs' voting power

(This article was excerpted from an article by Veronica Uy published in PDI, originally entitled 'The math of putting an OFW in the Senate' by Digno Dennis Durens. The article explained how OFWs can collectively win the candidacy of Rudy Dianalan, a Jeddah-based OFW leader, to the Senate. According to PDI, the Commission on Elections is still deliberating Dianalan's inclusion in the official list of senatorial candidates. If you will read the full article, you will notice that it didn't only talk of how powerful OFWs can be in ensuring a win for our representative in the Senate. More notably important is how it talks of our power as voters and how wide and strong our influence can be within our family).

"There are 7 million overseas Filipino workers worldwide. Assuming 30 percent will be able to vote, that's about 2.1 million votes. Assuming an average family size of 4 (husband, wife, and two children of voting age), that's now 8.4 million votes. I am sure that we can convince our immediate family 100 percent to vote for a fellow-OFW. Assuming further that each of the 2.1 million OFWs with a chance to vote will target 15 other Filipinos from his/her circle of relatives (parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, nieces) and friends (barkada, kaklase, kapitbahay, kababata, etc), this is equivalent to 31.5 million votes. (That's a) total of 39.9 million (8.4 plus 31.5) votes...


It really doesn't matter kung nasa abroad tayo, we can still do our share in the campaign.

Now ikalat na natin ang mathematical calculation na to, na we can do it and it's really very easy.

We have been glamorized as modern day heroes, savior of the nation, redeemer in times of economic distress. Pero hindi natin maramdaman eto and individually as an OFW wala naman tayong nakikitang prestige or glamor.

The facts are pag nasa Pinas tayo, sinisigawan lang tayo ng isang sekyu sa airport at tinataboy ang ating mga mahal sa buhay na parang mga hayop na umalis na at madaliin ang pagpapa-alam.

Saan ba sila naghihintay pag dumadating ka? Sa isang higanteng hawla, kala mo pumunta ka sa Manila Zoo. Paghalik mo tuloy sa asawa mo at mga anak mo nahilamusan ka pa ng pawis nila.

Pag nasa POEA ka, doon sa basement ka kukuha ng OEC, at ganun din kabangis ang asal ng mga sekyu at workers doon (I quite disagree with that line about POEA's security guards -- I thought they're very polite. I can't say the same with POEA's basement employees; I thought they all need replacing! - Nebz). Pag nagipit ka, sino ba ang nalalapitan mo sa gobyerno, mayron naman dyan pero libo-libo kayong may problema, kaya wala kang priority. May programa ba tayong purely for OFWs? I think wala. Sa SSS at Pag-big at Medicare, singit lang tayo. Ang OWWA naman, aywan kung ano to, basta nagbayad tayo kasi kailangan ng OEC. (I must commend Philhealth though because we got at least around 20% discount when my father last entered the hospital for a treatment - Nebz.)

Nakita nyo ba sa TV yung mga depedents natin nag-aaway-away na sa pila sa OWWA para makahiram lang ng sampung libo dahil sa nakaraang bagyong Ondoy at Pepeng. Madami tayong hinaing, maraming problema ang supposed to be heroes na alam naman natin na "lip service" lang ang bansag sa atin na to. "Hero ka dyan."

Our impact on our country is gained from our collective efforts particularly yung suma total ng ating remittances. The key word or the operative word here is "collective." Individually, walang effect. Yung $1,000 na pinadala mo, walang effect. But the $1,000 na pinadala ng 5 milyong OFWs sa isang buwan is equivalent to $5 billion, yun ang may impact. Its about time para gamitin din natin ang ating collective power, we have this in our hands but not as individuals but as OFWs collectively, acting as one huge, gigantic force.

Let's start with this electoral exercise, iparamdam na natin kung sino tayo. Let's start doing things from the position of strength. Pakita natin na we are a force to reckon with, that we can indeed make or break our nation. One OFW in the Senate is not too much to ask for. Set aside natin ang president and vice president. I'm sure we have our own choices. Kaya natin to, look at the numbers and look at your share in the undertaking. Peanuts, no sweat. Let's not forget the operative word "collective." For once, let us start being one."

(Amen to that - Nebz.)

Makabayang paala-ala ng Kablogs: Maglimi, mamili

Here's the full file of the Kablogs' call for responsible voting.



If you wish to download it for your sidebar, here's a smaller version of the advert.



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111th INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE

One hundred and eleven years ago, between four and five in the afternoon at Cavite el Viejo (Kawit), General Emilio Aguinaldo, in the presence of a huge crowd, proclaimed the independence of the Philippines. For the first time, the Philippine National Flag (which was made in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcella Agoncillo, with the help of Lorenzana Agoncillo and Delfina Herbozza) was officially hoisted and the Philippine National March played in the public.

On the commemoration of our National Independence, KABLOGS takes pride of the struggle of the Global Filipinos in pursuit of their dreams in their battle against poverty, and their families in the Philippines for their vigilance in safeguarding our Constitution demonstrates their genuine patriotism, an affirmation of our true identity as Filipinos.

It is our history that has shaped our character, and as people and which accounts for the reserves of courage and determination that we Filipinos draw upon as we meet the challenges that continue to face us in the present times.

We wish all Filipinos everywhere a meaningful and renewed national patriotism INDEPENDENCE DAY celebration!

-The KABLOGS TEAM